Apparatus for punching cigars



Oct. 12, 1943. s. H. REDFORD ETAL APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING CIGARS eSheecQs-Sheet 1 Original Filed April 18, 1941 Oct. 12, 1943. a. H.REDFORD EIAL 2,331,505

APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING CIGARS Original Filed April 18, 1941 6Sheets-Sheet 2 T wm TI Oct. 12, 1943.

B. H. REDFORD sf AL APPARATUS FOR. ruucgime CIGARS Original Filed April18, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 nlllllla IINVENTORS 6737a??? m H Red ATTORNEYSOct 1943. B. H. REDFORD ETAL 2,331,505

APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING CIGARS originalFiled April 18, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 a 4 a g w /6' 625' M2 I l 74 Oct. 12, 1943. B. H. REDFORD ETALAPPARATUS FOR PUNCHING CIGARS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed April 18,1941 LNVENTORS Berg am? b4 Fed/0rd 4 BY Mar/ea 7?. Jlmnson P ATTORNEYSOct. 12, 1943. B. H. REDFORD ETAL 2,331,506

APPARATUS FOR EUNCHING CIGARS Original Filed Aprii 18, 1941 6Sheets-Sheet 6 9 *M M 9 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. l2, 1943 APPARATUS FORPUNCHING CIGARS Benjamin H. Redford and Charles E. Swanson,

Charleston, S. 0., assignors to The American Tobacco Company, New York,N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Original application April 18, 1941,Serial No.

389,186. Divided and this application September 3, 1942, Serial No.457,132

Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for punching the ends of cigars andmore particularly to apparatus wherein the end of a cigar is pierced bya heated needle to form a permanent opening therein. This application isa division of our copending application, Serial No. 389,136, filed April18,1941.

As cigars are made it is necessary to remove a portion of the end of thecigar which the smoker places in his mouth to break the wrapper andpermit the smoke and gases to pass through the cigar from the lightedend when the smoker puffs it. While the end of the cigar may be removedby a cutting or clipping operation, the majority of smokers bite off thebutt end of the cigar. This practice is notentirely satisfactory becauseit frequently loosens the adjacent portion of the wrapper and thewrapper then continues to unravel during smoking.

It has been proposed to punch the butt end of a cigar, thus piercing thewrapper and eliminating the necessity of removing the tip prior tosmoking. Prior attempts to punch an opening into the end of a cigarduring the manufacturing operation have not been satisfactory. With theamount of moisture contained by tobacco in the form of a cigar anopening so punched is generally not permanent and the tobacco againfills the opening before the cigar is used.

In the present invention we provide apparatus for punching an opening inthe butt 'end of a cigar which will be permanent; that is, the portionof the cigar surrounding the opening will retain its shape. To obtainthis result we employ a heated needle which evaporates the moisture inthe tobacco around the opening and makes the opening permanent. For thispurpose we provide a head or carrier having a step by step motion with aplurality of cigar receiving sections. At one position of the carrier,cigars are automatically fed into a plurality of pockets of a section ofthe carrier and the section then moves to a second position. At thesecond position the ends of the cigars are'engaged by a plurality ofblunt needles which dent the end of the cigar and push the wrapper infrom the surface Without breaking it. Upon the next movement of thecarrier the cigars in the section are pierced by a series of heatedneedles which form the holes in the ends of the cigars and push thewrappers into the holes forming clean edges. The heat of the needle alsoevaporatesthe moisture in the tobacco. .At the fourth step the punchedcigars are delivered to a suitable conveyor and discharged from themachine.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown one form of machine forming apart of the invention. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a substantially central vertical, longitudinal sectional view;

Fig. 3 is a plan view;

Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar View on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a similar view on line 6--6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is a detailed, horizontal, sectional view substantially on lineof Fig. 2; v

Fig. 8 is a vertical, sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 4; I

Fig. 9 is a detailed, sectional view of one section of the carriershowing the position of the denting punch when in operative position;

Fig. 10 is a detailed, Vertical, sectional View of one of the piercingpunches;

Fig. 11 is a vertical, sectional view on line H-H of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detailed, sectional view of one of the sections of the heador carrier at the time the cigars are released; and

Fig. 13 is a plan view-0f one of the sections of the head or carrier.

General description of machine The machine comprises a bed or table 2mounted on suitable legs or supports 4 and having a pair of side walls 6and 8. The cigars are placed in a hopper ill (see Fig. 2) at the frontof the machine by an operator working in front of a table 12 and aredelivered from the hopper to one of the sections of the head it. Each ofthese sections is provided with a plurality of pockets for reception ofthe cigars and the cigars are fed into these pockets when the section ofthe head is in the position A of Fig. 2. At the second position B of thehead, the ends of the cigars are slightly dented without perforating thewrapper by means of denting punches carried by a frame It (see Figs. 2and 4) The head then moves to the third position C (Fig. 2) and the endsof the cigars are pierced or punched by punches mounted on a carriagel8. Upon movement of the section to the fourth position D and opening ofthe section, the punched cigars are delivered to an endless belt 20which conveys them to a receptacle 22 at the front of the machine.

Carrier or head The head or carrier is mounted on a sleeve 2:! which isin turn supported by a shaft 26 mounted in suitable hearings in the sidewalls 6 and 8 of the machine (see Fig. 4). Sleeve 24 is driven with astep by step movement and brings each of the four sections of the headto the positions A, B, C and D during each revolution. Each section ofthe head comprises a relatively stationary member 28 and a relativelymovable member 36- (see Figs. 12 and 13). These two members are mountedon a rod 32 (see Figs. 4 and 12) which is supported in a pair of ears orlugs34 carried by the sleeve 24. The rod 32 is prevented from relativemovement with respect to the sleeve by means of pins 36. The relativelystationary member 28 of the head is provided with arms 38 havingopenings for the reception of the rod 32 and the relatively stationarymember is secured against relative movement by pins 48 which passthrough these arms and through the rod 32.

The relatively movable member 30 is pivotally supported on the rod 32 topermit opening and closing of the section for-the insertion and removalof cigars. As shown, the relatively movable member is provided with arms42 having openings for the reception of the rod 32 to pivotally supportthe movable member on this rod,

Member 28 is provided with an inner face having a plurality ofsubstantially semi-circular pockets 44 for the reception of the cigars(see Fig. 13). The other member 30 carries a plu ral ity of cigarengaging plates 46 which are likewise provided with substantiallysemi-circular recesses 48 for the reception of the cigars. Each of theplates 43 is provided with a pair of pins 49 (see Fig. 12) and thesepins are surrounded by springs 50. These springs are receivedin andengage the bottom of cups or receptacles 52 carried by the movablemember 30. The cigar engaging plates 46 are thus yieldingly forcedagainst the cigars to prevent damage to them. Inward movement of thecigar engaging plates 46 is limited by pins 54 which pass through theportions of the pins 49 which project from the receptacles 52. A wiremember 56 is secured to the ends of each of the members 28 and 30 andextends transversely of the opposite member 28 or 30 as indicated at 58,then along the entire length of the section as indicated at 65. Each ofthese wire members may be provided with a substantially centraltransverse member The head or carrier I4 is driven with a step by stepmovement from a shaft 64 which is supported in bearings carried by theside frame member 6 and an auxiliary frame member or bracket 66 (seeFig. 4). This shaft is provided with a pulley 68 by means of which theshaft may be driven, or it may be directly connected to a motor or othersource of power. It is also provided with a hand wheel 78 on its outerend to permit manual operation. Shaft 84 is provided with a pinion I2which drives a gear 14 mounted on a shaft I6 to rotate therewith. Theshaft 76 is also mounted in suitable bearings in the side plate and theauxiliary side plate 60 (see 4). A sprocket I8 is mounted onthe shaft 25and a chain 86 passes over this sprocket and over a sprocket 82 mountedon a shaft 84 (see Fig. 1); The shaft 64, which is thus constantlydriven, extends across the machine and is provided with a sprocket 86 onits other end (see Fig. 3). A chain 80 passes over this sprocket andover a sprocket 88 on a shaft 92. The shaft 92' is mounted in suitablebearings carried by the side plate 8 and by an auxiliary side plate orbracket 04 and is arranged substantially opposite to the shaft 16 (seeFig. 4). On the inner side of the side plate 8 this shaft carries a disc56 forming one element of a Geneva movement. This disc has a pin 98through which it drives the other element of the Geneva drive (see Fig.2). A star wheel I00 is mounted upon the sleeve 24 and is provided withfour slots I02. Revolution of the shaft 92 thus imparts a step by stepmovement to the sleeve 24, through the Geneva movement and each sectionof the head is in turn moved to each of the four positions and remainsin that position a sufiicient length of time to permit the operationwhich is performed at that station.

Cigar feed As stated, the cigars are manually placed in the hopper II)by an operator, the cigars being so placed that the ends I84 which areto be pierced are toward the front of the hopper so that they will. bedelivered to the carrier with these ends projecting from the cigarholders. The end walls of the hopper are inclined as at I06 (see Fig. 5)to facilitate feeding the cigars into pockets in the bottom of thehopper. These pockets are aligned with the pockets formed by therecesses 44 and 48 in the sections of the head when the section is inposition A and insure proper delivcry of a cigar into each section ofthe head. The bottom of the hopper is provided with a plate I98 havingsubstantially semi-circular recesses I It for the reception ofindividual cigars. Above each of these recesses there is provided avertical chan nel II2, the channels being separated from each other bymembers H4. The members H4 are vertically oscillated to agitate thecigars in the bottom of the body portion of the hopper and feed theminto the channels II2. Plates H5 (see Fig. 2) are secured to the frontand rear walls of the hopper and these plates and the walls of thehopper are provided with vertical slots I I8 (see Fig. 5). Anoscillating plate I20 is arranged. on the outside of each of the platesH8 and these oscillating plates are provided with. inclined slots I22.Pins I24 pass through the slots IIB and I22 and are connected. to themembers H4. The upper ends of the members II4 are rounded as shown tofacilitate delivery of the cigars into the guid'e ways H2 when themembers II 4 are agitated.

To oscillate the plates I20 we provide a cam I22mounted on a shaft I24(see Figs. 5 and 6). Shaft I 24 is mounted in bearings carried by theside plate 6 and the auxiliary side plate 66. The ends of the plates I20are connected to a transverse member I26 which is in turn provided withan arm I 28 having a pin or roller I30 adapted to be received in thegroove of the cam I22. Shaft I24 is driven from shaft 16. A sleeve I32is loosely mounted on the shaft 26 between a pair of collars I34 (seeFig. 4). This sleeve carries a gear I36 meshing with gear I4 and alsocarries a sprocket I38 The sprocket I38 receives a chain I40 (see Fig.3) which also passes over a sprocket I42 mounted on the shaft I24.

With a cigar mounted in each of the pockets III) of the bottom plate I08of the hopper and with a section of the head in the position A (see Fig.2) of the drawings, a cigar is fed to each of the pockets of thesection. A reciprocating plate I60 is mounted beneath the table I2 andthis plate carries pushing members I62 on its inner end. One-pushingmember I62 is provided for eachof the pockets III). The pushing deviceis actuated from shaft 92 (see Fig. 4). A cam I64 is mounted on thisshaft and this cam is provided with a cam groove to receive a pin I66carried by an arm I68 (see Fig. 3). The upper end of the arm I68 isprovided with a sleeve I16 which receives the shaft 28 toform a pivotfor this arm. The lower end of the arm I68 is connected to a link I12and the opposite end of this link is connected to an arm I14. Arm I14 ismounted on a transverse shaft I16 (see Fig. 5) to thus oscillate theshaft I16. Adjacent each end the shaft I16 is provided with an arm orcrank I18 (see Fig. 2). These arms are connected to arms I86 by linksI82. The arms I86 are pivoted on the side walls of the machine as atI84. Arms I80 are connected to arms I86,

which are secured to the plate I66, by means of links I88.

Cigar denting punches rality of punches I98. Beneath the cross-mem-' herI 96, a second cross-member 266 is slidably mounted on the rods I94. Thecross-member 266 is provided with openings for the. reception of therods I94 and its downward movement is limited by collars 262 fixed torods I94. Its upward movement toward the upper cross-member 206 islimited by springs 204, which surround the rods I94 between thecross-members I96 and 266. As shown in Fig. 9 the cross-member, 206carries-a plurality of guide blocks 265 having openings .266 for thepassage of the punches I98 and having recesses 208 on their lower sidesshaped to receive the ends of the cigars. The punches I98 and theguide-blocks 265 are removably mounted so that they can be replaced bysimilar members when different. types or shapes of cigars are be inghandled.

The entire punching assembly is caused to reciprocate downwardly when asection of the head has reached the position B and come to rest. It isdriven from the shaft 16 by means of cam v 2 I 0. This cam is providedwith a groove 2I2 (see Fig. 1) which receives a roller 2I4 carried by anarm 2| 6. The arm 2 I6 is pivoted to the side wall of the machine at2I8. The lower end of this arm is connected to a link 226. The oppositeend of the link is connected to an arm or crank 222 carried by a sleeve224 mounted on a shaft 226. The shaft 226 is thus oscillated. Shaft 226extends across the machine and is rovided with cranks or arms 228 ateach end (see Fig. 3). These arms are connected to links 230 extendinglongitudinally of the machine. The other ends of these links areconnected to the ends of bell crank levers 232 (see Fig. 1). The bellcrank levers are pivoted in the side walls of the machine ,at 234. Theother arms 236 of the bell crank levers are connected to the guides orcrossheads I92.

Cigar piercing mechanism At the next station C, the piercing punchesengage the ends of the cigars to form the opening The upper ends ofthese rods are conin the ends of them. Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and I6of the drawings, a plurality of piercing punches 256 arecarriedby thecarriage I8 which oscillates on the bed or table of themachine, towardand away from the section of. the head in. the position C. Each ofthepunches is mounted on a shaft 254. Shafts 254 are mounted in suitablebearings: carried by transverse members 256 and 258 of the carriage. Theouter endsof the shafts are provided with sprockets 260 and the punchesare continuously rotated-when the machine is in operation. In frontof.the transverse memher 256 aheating coil 262 is mounted in a'suit ablecasing 264 and the punch or needle256 extends through this heating coiland projects therefrom. Casing 264 is connected to the shaft 254 by aninsulated joint shown in Fig. 11. .As shown a substantially oval shapedplate 265 is mounted on the inner end of the casing, and a similarlyshaped plate 266is mounted on the end of the shaft, and has its majoraxis at right angles to that of the plate 265. Plates 265 and 266 areeach connected to a ring 261 of suitable fibrous heat insulatingmaterial. This arrangement not only insulates the shaft from the heatingcoil but also provides a flexible mounting for the needle. The punch orneedle, as shown, is provided with a relatively sharp point 268. A pairof arms 210 (see Fig. 3), which extend longitudinally, support atransverse member 212 carrying guide-blocks 214, similar to theguide-blocks 265 heretofore described, These guide-blocks are providedwith openings 216 for the punches and their faces are provided withrecesses 218 shaped to receive the end'of a cigar (see Fig. 10).

Arms 216 are slidably mounted in the carriage or frame I6 to permit theguide-blocks to yield when they engage the ends of cigars and preventbreakage. As shown collars 280 are fixedly mounted on the rods 210 andcoil springs 282 are arranged between these collars and the transversemembers.

The coils282 are heated when the machine is in operation by means of abus bar 284 which extends across the carriage and is provided with 362,links 362 being in turn connected to the carriage as at 364.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 7 of the drawings we I provide means forcleaning each of the punches 256 after each cigar piercing operation.The shaft 84 carries a cam 366. An arm or lever 368 which is pivoted tothe carriage at. 3I6 is engaged by this cam. A frame 3I2 is pivoted tothe carriage at 3I4 and this frame carries a plurality of cleaningdevices 3I6 at its outer end. The cleaning devices are adapted toreceive steel wool or the like and when the cam 366 raises the lever368, the lever in turn raises the frame 3I2 to bring one of the cleaningdevices into contact with each of the needles. The needle being in astate of revolution is cleaned by the contact with the steel wool.

Sprockets 260 on the shafts of the piercing needles are driven by achain 320 which passes over 'all of the sprockets. The end shaft 254 isprovided witnaipulley; 32".; (see Fig.3). Arbeltor.

cable. passesL over; thei'pulley; 322 *andz over a. pair: ofrguidepulleysxkzk arranged omthe; frame near-:theen'dtanda in.asubstantially:horizontalzpoe.

sition ..(see :Eig..1D 'lihebelt 3.2.3 also .IJESSBSSOVGL a: pulley. 328on theshaflzfil.

Cigar remouinm mechanism The endless belt 20! toiwhich the. cigars arede-. livered as each: section of the head: leaves the station D3 isdriven from-shaft 15 Shaft 16: isprovided: with. a sprocket. 3311!.which receivesa chain llw ('see Fig. 1) This chain passes-over asprocket 33$ which is loosely mounted on: the shaftMt A second'sprocketl 335 is alsoloosely mounted on-the shaft 84 but connected tothe sprocket,- 391 to rotate therewithr This sprocket receivesa=chain-33$ which p assesover asprocket- 340 011 a-shaft 342Theshaft-'-352 isrmounted in brachetsflll depending from: anysuitableportion otthe machine. It carriesia roller 34%" overwhich the beltpassesand' the other end otthe belt passesover an idl'en roller 38 8.

O'ver tli'e belt and adjacent-midpoint where the cigars are deliveredto'it (see Fig. 5") We" provide a-pluralityof plates or' partitionmembers; 3% to keep: the cigars separated from eachother and causethemto feedlongitudinally of thebelt. These plates are supported; byarod 352 carried by: a pair of arm's 354' having sleeve portions looselyreceivedon thesha ft Hi; "We also-provide a curvedplateor apron 356*(see- '2) adjacent the rearend: of the plates to facilitate deiiyery ofthecigarsfrcmthe sectionsofithe headto the belt.

Pocket opening and closing mechanism,-

As stated, the member 28 of each cigarreceiymg section of thehead isrigidlymoun-ted on the rod 32 and the. section- 38 is pivotallymountedthereon to permit opening andclosing of the sections for the receptionof and delivery of the cigars. As shown in Fig. 2 when a-section reachesthe position: Atit is. in open po-sition- Jo-receive the cigar-szfromthebottomof the-hopper. Just as it leavesthis position itisclosed andremains closed untihit: reaches theposition-D; when it is again opened:Asindicated in- 12-, the'cigarsthen fall. from the section. primarily bygravity to the belt 2!): To effect the openin and=closing of thesections of the head we provide a cam 31 which is loosdy; mounted: on:the stationary shaft 23 (see Figs. *kandSlz. The armsfii whiclrsupportthe movable members ofeach cigar receiving sectionareprovidedwithprojections 312 received in the groove 314 of cam SW.groove is provided with an eccentric portion 6 which-the arm 3-12 entersas it approaches station.Dtoopen the section and'permit release of thecigar-s; The armor projection 312 continues in-this-por-tion ofthegroove; retaining the sectionin openposit-ion, until afterit has reachedtheposi-tion A so-that the section will-remain open forsthereceptionofaenew lot of cigars. To cause the closing of the section.just as it is about to leave thepositionk, sothat itwilllbeclosed beforemoving; the cam 3?! this oscillated, As shown an arm 3H is: connected,tothis. cam. and this arm in turn engages a cam 3fl8ion theshaft 16.

The cigar receiving sections of; the head are assembled, so that other:sections having; different shaped pockets may be substituted-torhandling cigars of. difierent, sizes, and types. shown in Fig, 4. thesidewall Bris providedwith; an opening m. and t star w e "I is providedwith four shown, the

openings 3&8 in alignmentwith therods 3,2. To remove; a; section: of;the head,;the corresponding. opening 388*isabrought intO alignment withopening 386i wheelxli Pins. 3-6iand= Atrmay then beremoved. (Jam; 310which'isiloose on; shaft: 25; is normally held: in operative position;to receive the. projec-; tionsi3fl2z'bysspring. 399i The. cam is movedtowardthe side wall ihagainst the; tension: of spring. 3%,. and therodipassed throughthe aligned openings:.386-;and,3.88. Thesectionloftheheadis thenloosened from its connectionto sleeve: and may.beremoved-z Operation The operation of the machine.willibe apparent fromthe foregoing description, An operator standing in front 'ofthe machinetakes, cigars from the table l2 and places-them in the hopper 10 withthe end 'of the cigars to be pierced toward the front: of themachine.With asection oi-tth'e head in' the osition A", thepushing devices are:then. actuatedl to: feed the; cigars from the. pockets. H0 at. thebottompfi the hopperlintothe pockets of the head: Before movement of thehead cam. 31B: is oscillated by cant 3:78: to close the pockets of the.section. The Geneva movement then moves. that section; of. theheadtopositionB;

While the head is in estate: of rest in position Bgpunchee I98 descendand: dent the end of the cigar without piercing. the. wrapper. The bar2095 which; supports theguide-blocks 2%; upon contact withthe ends)of'the cigars-, places the springs. 204: under slight tension and thesprings hold. the: guiderblocks. in. position against the ends of thecigarsand'pr-eventbreakage. After retraction ofthe punches andguide-blocks the Geneva movement then; moves the-section of theheadtmpositionC:

While the headiis me state-of: rest in this position,v carriagel8: movesforwardly. Guideblocks 2:18: engage the. ends of: the cigars and thecross-member 2121 which carriesltheseguideblocks is; also. yieldinglysupported so that the guideeblocks may be'heldzinsengagem'ent with thecigars without. damaging them. The. flexible mountingof the: punches:prevents binding ifone or' morelofe the guide-blocks shouldbewarped bythe heat of the punches. The piercing. punches, which constantlyrotatewith the shaft 254, enter the cigars. The punchesarelheated bycoils 262 to a: temperature in excessofSOO? F. The result is-that themoisture inthe tobacco adjacent the piercing punches is evaporated andthe punched opening remains permanently in the end of the cigar.

After the carriage has been retracted to the position shown in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings; cam 306 raises the frame 3|2 which carries the cleaningdevices and. the steel wool; or other material, in each of the cleaningmembers 34 6; contacts with the revolving. needle and cleans it. TheGeneva movement then moves the section of the carrier to-position D;

At position D the section of the head is opened by cam 3T0. Arm orprojection 312 riding in the groove of this cam opens the section andthe cigars move outwardly to the position Shown in Fig 12 engaging thebelt 20. The wire members 56 carried by the members 28 and 30' assureremoval of the cigars. As the sections are opened, one of these memberscomes in contact with the cigar, as sh own in- Fig 12; torelease itfromthe depression; orpocket Mor- M in the other mem- Thiscan be donebymeansof'the hand,

ber. Movement of the belt causes the cigar to travel along the belt andat the beginning of this movement, the cigars are properly guided by theplates 350.

We claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising means for holding aplurality of cigars in parallel spaced relation, a reciprocatingcarriage,-

parallel spaced arrangement, a reciprocating carriage, a plurality ofpiercing needles mounted on the carriage. means for rotating theneedles. a frame pivoted to the carriage, cleaning members carried bythe frame, and means for raising the frame to bring the cleaning membersin contact with the needles.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a holder to receive aplurality of cigars, a reciprocating carriage, a plurality of shaftsmounted on the carriage, means for rotating the shafts. a

piercing needle mounted on the end of each shaft. a heatin coilsurrounding a portion of the needle, a yieldable member mounted on thecarriage in advance of the needles, guide blocks carried b the yieldablemember in alignment with each of the needles, a pivoted frame mounted onthe car-- ria e, cleaning members carried by the frame, and means forraising the frame to cause the cleaning members to contact with theneedles.

4. Apparatus of the character described comarising means for holding aplurality of cigars in parallel s aced arrangement, a reciprocatincarriage, a plurality of piercing needles mounted n the carria e. meansfor rotating the needles. a frame mounted on the carriage, cleaningmembers carried by the frame, and means for actuatin the frame to bringthe cleaning members in contact with the needles.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprisin means for holding aplurality of cigars in narallel snaced arrangement, a reciprocatingcarriage. a plurality of piercing needles mounted on the carria e. meansfor rotating the needles, means for reciprocating the carriage, theneedles being aligned with the ends of the cigars in the holding meansto pierce the ends of the cigars on forward reciprocation of the carriae. a frame mounted on the carriage, cleaning members carried by theframe, and means for actuating the frame when the carriage is in itsrearward position to clean the needles.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising means for holding aplurality of cigars in parallel spaced arrangement, a reciprocatingcarriage, a plurality of piercing needles mounted on the carriage, meansfor rotating the needles, means for reciprocating the carriage, theneedles being aligned with the cigars in the holding means to pierce theends of the cigars on forward reciprocation of the carriage, a framepivoted to the carriage, cleaning members carried by the frame, and acam engaging the frame when the carriage is in its rearward position toraise the frame and bring the cleaning members into contact with theneedles.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising means for holding aplurality of cigars in parallel spaced relation, a reciprocatingcarriage, a plurality of shafts mounted on the carriage, a casingmounted on the end of each shaft, a needle mounted in the casing andprojecting therefrom, a heating coil mounted in the casing adjacent theneedle, and a flexible joint between the shaft and the casing toinsulate the shaft from the coil and form a flexible mounting for theneedle.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising means for holding aplurality of cigars in parallel spaced relation, a reciprocatingcarriage, a plurality of shafts mounted on the carriage, a casingmounted on the end of each shaft, a needle mounted in the casing andprojecting therefrom, a heating coil mounted in the casing adjacent theneedle, and a ring of fibrous material connecting the casing to theshaft to insulate the shaft from the coil and to form a flexiblemounting for the needle.

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising means for holding aplurality of cigars in parallel spaced relation, a reciprocatingcarriage, a plurality of shafts mounted on the carriage, a needlemounted on the end of each shaft, electrical conducting membersextending across the carriage, electrical conducting members on eachshaft in electrical engagement with the first mentioned electricalconducting members, a heating coil arranged adjacent each needle,connections between the coils and the conducting members carried by theshafts, and means for rotating the shafts.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising means'for holding aplurality of cigars in parallel spaced relation, a reciprocatingcarriage, a plurality of shafts mounted on the carriage, a needlemounted on the end of each shaft, a pair of electrical conductingmembers extending across the carriage, a pair of conducting rings oneach shaft in electrical engagement with said conducting members, aheating coil surrounding a portion of each needle, connections betweenthe coils and the conducting rings, means for rotating the shafts, andheat insulating means to insulate the shafts from the coils.

BENJAMIN H. REDFORD. CHARLES SWANSON.

